[caption id="attachment_69739" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Kerry's Tomás O Sé and Shane Enright try to stop Eugene McVerry of Armagh during the NFL game at Austin Stack Park in Tralee on Saturday evening. "]
CORK and surprise packets Armagh are the pacesetters in Division One of the Allianz National League following a Gaelic games weekend which, like rugby, was affected by the weather.
While the circumstances surrounding Mayo’s game against Dublin at McHale Park last Saturday night didn’t quite rival the situation which pertained for Ireland’s postponed rugby match in Paris, it was highly dramatic in its own way. The two teams had gone in at half-time fully believing that they would complete the game.
But by the time they were ready to emerge the pitch was covered in a thick fog. Referee Marty Duffy was left with little option but to bring a halt to proceedings.
“I couldn’t see the four corners of the field when I was standing out there in the middle.” he explained. Neither, it has to be said, could the attendance at the Castlebar venue see him as he disappeared into the centre of the pitch.
Potentially the match could have been replayed on Sunday afternoon last but it was instead decided to refix it for a later date. Either way, both manager James Horan (Mayo) and Pat Gilroy (Dublin) seemed to accept the situation with some grace.
Of the two sides, Mayo will perhaps feel a bit more disappointed. Although Dublin led by 0-8 to 0-5 at the break, they faced a difficult second half following the straight red card shown to James McCarthy for elbowing Alan Freeman.
Had Mayo won they would be sitting on top of the table today. Instead, it is Cork and Armagh who lead the way after two games with one win and a draw.
Cork, in fact, are ahead on points difference after thumping Down by 4-11 to 0-10 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday. The differerence, very clearly, was Cork’s ability to get goals.
Three of them came from Pa Kelly, with the Donncha O’Connor getting the other from a penalty. The impressive O’Connor finished with 1-4 which meant that he and Kelly contributed 4-4 between them.
The shock result came at Austin Stacks Park on Saturday night where Armagh beat Kerry by 2-8 to 0-10. Precious few, apart from Armagh boss Paddy O’Rourke, could have seen this coming.
To be fair, Armagh did hold Cork to a draw in their first match. So, Kerry were going to have play at a very decent level to see off the Ulster rivals.
In the event, they didn’t appear to be up for the occasion, perhaps paying too much attention to their opening victory over Dublin in Croke Park. Armagh, by contrast, were right up for it.
Given that they were without their Crossmaglen contingent, along with Stevie McDonnell, it was quite an achievement. They fully deserved their success, putting Kerry under pressure from an early stage.
Astonishingly, they were 1-3 to 0-0 ahead after 15 minutes with Brian Mallon getting the goal. By half-time, Kerry had reduced the lead to 1-4 to 0-3 but an opportunist Armagh goal from John Kingham early in the second period proved crucial.
Kerry, again missing the services of Colm Cooper, did manage a bit of a rally, Bryan Sheehan finishing with five points, but they couldn’t catch their rivals. Manager Jack O’Connor was very honest in his comments.
“We didn’t appear to be as up for the game as Armagh were.” he insisted. There was a big danger after the Dublin match there would be a come-down.
“Maybe we didn’t approach this game as we should, especially in the first half.” For all that, no one was going to begrude Armagh their victory; it has been a fine start to the league for a team many believed would struggle.
In the remaining game in the top division, Laois proved too good for a disappointing Donegal outfit at O’Donnell Park, Letterkenny, winning by 2-9 to 2-6. The final scoreline flattered Donegal in that their two goals came in the final eight minutes.
Prior to that, Laois were much the better outfit with Padraig Clancy (1-1) proving an ispirational figure.
Meath and Tyrone are top of Division Two with maximum points after comfortable victories over Westmeath and Derry respectively. Meath, in fact, strolled to a 0-17 to 0-5 victory over a very poor Westmeath outfit at Mullingar, with Stephen Bray contributing 0-5.
Tyrone continued their impressive start of the season by thumping Derry by 2-15 to 0-9 at Healy Park. Micky Murphy and Peter Harte got the goals against a Derry team which never got going.
Galway and Louth shared the spoils 1-8 to 0-11 at Pearse Stadium to lie third and fourth respectively in the table. At one stage, Galway led by 1-5 to 0-2 but Louth gradually fought their way back into it, and secured a deserved draw with a late Jim McEneaney point.
Unfortunately, Monaghan’s fine 0-17 to 0-12 victory over Kildare in Clones was overshadowed by a mass brawl just before half-time. Kildare defender Brian Flanagan was shown a red card
Monaghan, already 0-9 to 0-6 in front, went on to record a deserved win with the accurate Paul Finlay scoring 0-6, three from frees. Surprisingly, Kildare are one of three teams still without a point, the others being Westmeath and Derry.
Longford, Roscommon and Antrim are all on four points at the top of Division Three. Longford beat Cavan (0-10 to 0-7), Roscommon got the better of Offaly (0-12 to 1-6), while Antrim saw off Tipperary (1-13 to 0-13). Limerick lead Division Four following their 0-21 to 0-2 victory over Kilkenny. But many of the teams have only played one game.
Offaly, Antrim clubs
to contest hurling final
OFFALY’S Coolderry and Loughgiel Shamrocks from Antrim will contest the All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling final on St Patrick’s Day after semi-final victories over Gort and Na Piarsaigh respectively.
It was a tremendous effort on the part of both teams. Coolderry defeated Gort by 3-16 to 0-17 following a top class game at the Limerick Athletic Grounds.
The situation at Parnell Park in Dublin involved a bit more tension as Loughgiel Shamrock had to go into extra time before getting the better of Na Piarsaigh from Limerick by 0-27 to 2-13. The sides were level 0-18 to 2-12 at the end of normal time.
Loughgiel must have thought they were home and dry when leading by six points with 11 minutes remaining but Na Piarsaigh roared back with a Kevin Downes point bringing the match into extra-time.
However, Loughgiel recovered their composure and deserv ed to go through to their first final since 1983. The difference was the accuracy of Liam Watson who contributed a remarkable 0-16, six of which came from play.
Coolderry’s ability to score goals proved their difference in their win against Galway champions Gort. They got three of them through Eoin Ryan, Cathal Parlon and Damian Murray to go through to their first ever final.
It was the third goal from Murray four minutes from the end which clinched it for Coolderry. The impressive Murray finished with 1-8, five of which came from freea.
Derrytresk foiled
DERRYTRESK’s All-Ireland Cub Junior Football Championship campaign ended in disappointment when they were beaten 1-8 to 1-7 in the final by Galway’s Naomh Padraig Clonbur at Croke Park on Sunday.
Given the circumstances which saw seven of their players suspended following a semi-final brawl, it was a great effort by the Tyrone outfit. But their hopes were dashed when Liam Kearney kicked a late match-winning point for Clonbur.
Derrytresk had led for virtually all of the match. They were 1-4 to 0-3 in front at the interval but inevitably their lack of resources began to tell in the second half.
To add to their disappointment, Derrytresk wasted a penalty opportunity when Niall Gavin saw his effort saved by Clonbur goalkeeper Paraic Walsh. Afterwards, they tended to blame the national media for their defeat but some credit must obviously go to Clonbur.
They really came good in the final quarter, outscoring their rivals by five points to nil in that period.
